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Commonwealth plotters try to exclude Charles

THE Prince of Wales has been warned of a plot to prevent him succeeding the Queen as head of the Commonwealth, one of the monarch’s most influential surviving functions.

Robert Mugabe, the president of Zimbabwe, is fomenting demands to sever ties that have bound the royal family to the Commonwealth since its foundation in 1949. Under one option, leadership of the club for former territories of the British empire would be rotated among its 54 members after the death of the Queen.

Mugabe’s allies insist that their aim is not to humiliate Charles but to prevent Britain from abusing its historic influence over other Commonwealth countries. They blame it for Zimbabwe’s suspension from the organisation.

The position of Don McKinnon, a New Zealander who is the Commonwealth secretary-general, is also under attack by Mugabe’s allies. South Africa has accused him of improper behaviour in securing a 10-month extension to Zimbabwe’s